1st Birthday Party Food

It is special to prepare party food for bub’'s first birthday and we’ve put together some quick and easy recipe ideas for party food that tastes delicious. Remember you will most likely be planning a birthday menu for a diverse age group ranging from senior family members to bub. So it is useful to plan the party food menu accordingly.

It’s also helpful to remember that the 1st birthday party food you lovingly prepare is more likely to be enjoyed by the adults rather than the children. Up to the age of 5, little ones tend to find the idea of a birthday party so exciting, that the food is not as interesting as the chance to run amok!

We’ve organised the 1st birthday party food into the following categories:

1. Party food for the birthday baby and their friends
2. Party food for toddlers and older siblings
3. Party food for the grown ups

When planning the 1st birthday party food there are a few important things to keep in mind:

• Check with parents and invitees before the birthday party about any food allergies. They are more and more common these days and it is important to avoid substances that may trigger an allergic reaction. If this is the case then often these parents will prefer to bring their own food.
• Keep potential choking hazards off the birthday party menu. This includes popcorn, hard lollies, nuts, raw vegetables, grapes, marshmallows and chips.

1st birthday baby menu

Menu planning tips

• Once you’ve confirmed the numbers of babies or toddlers attending your bub’s birthday party you can plan the party food. The key is to keep it very simple. Ideally, buy a few little individual disposable lunchboxes for each child. That way, the parents of that child can help their little one with their food and you aren’t going to over cater. This also means less likelihood of food being shared that is important for parents of children with allergies.
• If you are at home for the party, pop some picnic blankets on the floor to let the little ones sit with their parents to eat the party food. Don’t take it personally if they reject it, or wander off midway through. It is a very exciting occasion!
• When it comes to drinks on a birthday party menu stick to serving water or milk to the little ones. Babies and small children should really avoid fizzy drinks and cordial. Their little teeth are very vulnerable to decay and the best thing to do is to avoid them altogether.

Birthday party food menu suggestions

Sandwiches

It’s usually best to prepare these on the morning of the party itself so the bread is fresh. Novelty shaped sandwiches are a great way to grab bub’s attention. You can even get one tied into the theme of your party. Make sure to thinly butter each slice of the bread and fill with sandwich filling of choice. Cut in preferred shape and store in the lunch container.

Filling suggestions

• grated cheddar cheese and chutney
• cream cheese and sliced ham
• chopped hard boiled eggs mashed with margarine
• Vegemite

Banana pear muffins

You can prepare this party food the day before and store in an airtight container.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of organic self-raising flour
• 1 egg
• 1 ripe banana
• 1 pear
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon of spice
• 1 tablespoon of milk (cow or an alternative is fine)

Instructions

1. Peel and finely chop the pear.
2. On a plate, mash the banana with a fork.
3. Place the oil and egg in a bowl and whisk until blended.
4. Add the spice and pear to the flour.
5. Add the oil mixture and bananas alternatively to the flour and gently blend.
6. Add the milk if required.
7. Spoon mixture into greased muffin tray or muffin patty cups.
8. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until cooled.

Jelly cups

Just remember to provide spoons and close supervision. This is a great party food!

Ingredients

• Gelatine
• Water
• Juice

Instructions

1. Mix one teaspoon of powdered Gelatine with 50ml boiling water until dissolved.
2. Top up with cold water and fruit juice to make total volume 160ml.
3. Pop in fridge until set.
4. You can use any fruit juice – try orange, apple, cranberry and tropical.

Handy hint: why not drop the plastic spoon in the jelly cup as they go in the fridge? That way they set with the spoon in them and you don’t go looking for spoons on the day!

Toddlers party food menu

If there are toddlers at your bub’s birthday party, you can use most of the previous suggestions for their meal as well. But you can also add the following party food recipes as well.

Toddlers are sometimes fussy little creatures with very specific preferences about what they will and won’t eat. This birthday party menu is designed to be visually appealing for them as well as being very tasty.

Stick to the same formula of making up individual lunch boxes for them. This will reduce the clean up afterwards. It’s best to try and get them to sit down and eat together or under close adult supervision. Remember if they wander off not to be upset. But make sure to remove any food they might be clutching in their hands to help reduce it appearing on your sofa or carpet later on!

Lavash bread pizza rolls

Ingredients

• Lavash Bread
• Sliced Ham
• Sliced Salami
• Pizza Base Sauce
• Capsicum
• Sun Dried Tomatoes
• Olives
• Mushrooms
• Grated Cheese

Instructions

1. Dice capsicum and sun dried tomato. Slice mushrooms and olives.
2. Spread pizza sauce on lavish bread.
3. Top half the lavash bread with toppings.
4. Roll the lavash bread up and place under sandwich press for 5 minutes.
5. Cut rolls into manageable pieces for a child or leave whole for adult.

Choc chip biscuits

Ingredients

• 125g butter, softened
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
• few drops vanilla essence
• 1 1/2 cups champion standard plain flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Cream butter, sugar, condensed milk and vanilla until light and fluffy.
2. Sift flour and baking powder together.
3. Mix sifted dry ingredients and chocolate chips into creamed mixture.
4. Roll tablespoons full of mixture into balls.
5. Place on a greased oven tray and flatten with a floured fork.
6. Bake at 180 for 20 minutes.

Adult birthday party menu

When it comes to catering for the grown ups at your bub’s birthday party it is really up to you to decide what’s the most stress free menu option for you. Most parents will enjoy many of the items on the bub and toddler menu. We’ve included a few easy birthday recipes with an added “wow” factor that your grown up guests will definitely enjoy! They’re easy party food and finger food that guests can enjoy as they chase after the little ones!

Arancini Balls

Makes approx 25. Part of this can be prepared before the party the night before. This recipe is one where you call on your trusty “helpers” to keep an eye on bub while you do the final preparations.

Ingredients

• 900ml chicken stock
• 2-3 tbs olive oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 340g jar marinated artichokes, drained, chopped
• 300g arborio rice
• 1/4 cup (60ml) dry white wine
• 30g unsalted butter, chopped
• 1/2 cup (40g) finely grated parmesan
• 100g mozzarella, cut into small cubes
• 1 tbs plain flour
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 2 cups (200g) dried breadcrumbs
• Vegetable oil, to deep-fry

Instructions

1. Place stock in saucepan and bring stock to the boil over high heat. Keep at a gentle simmer on stove.
2. Heat oil in a large, heavy-based pan over medium heat.
3. Add onion and cook until soft.
4. Add artichokes and rice and stir for 1-2 minutes to coat grains.
5. Add wine and stir for 3-4 minutes until almost evaporated.
6. Add stock, a cup at a time, make sure it is fully absorbed before adding the next cupful. Continue for 15-20 minutes, stirring, until rice is cooked but still firm to the bite.
7. Stir in butter and parmesan, then season to taste.
8. Spread the mix in a shallow dish to cool. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or overnight.
9. Line a tray with baking paper. Place 1 tablespoon of risotto in the palm of your hand and flatten slightly.
10. Place a piece of mozzarella in the centre, then roll up to enclose and form a smooth ball. Place on the tray. Repeat with remaining risotto. Chill balls for 10 minutes.
11. Place flour, egg and crumbs in separate bowls. Dust risotto balls in flour, then dip in egg, roll in crumbs and return to tray.
12. Half-fill a heavy-based saucepan with vegetable oil and heat to 190C. (If you don’t have a deep-fryer thermometer, test a cube of bread – it will turn golden in 30 seconds when oil is hot enough.) # In batches, fry arancini, turning, for 8-10 minutes until golden. Drain on paper towel. Serve immediately.

Handy hint: you can prepare this before the guests arrive and keep it in the oven on a low heat to keep it warm.

Coconut Truffles

Makes 25. You can prepare these a week before the party and freeze them. Just take them out on the morning of the party to defrost.

Ingredients

• 1 × 250g packet Dark Chocolate, finely chopped
• 125ml (1/2 cup) thickened cream
• 1-2 tbs rum or brandy
• 150g dark chocolate melts, melted
• 130g (2 cups) shredded coconut

Instructions

1. Place the chopped chocolate in a glass or ceramic bowl. Heat the cream in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until just boiling. Pour the cream over the chocolate. Stir gently until the chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth.
2. Add in the rum or brandy. Cover and set aside for 2-3 hours or until firm.
3. Line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper. Prepare heaped teaspoonfuls of the chocolate mixture and place them in balls onto the tray. Cover and place in the fridge for 1 hour or until firm.
4. Following packet directions melt the chocolate melts.
5. Place the coconut in a large bowl. Dip 1 truffle into the chocolate, then roll the truffle in the coconut to coat. Place on the lined tray. Repeat with remaining truffles.
6. Set aside for an hour until set.

Birthday party menus are always fun to organise. Just remember to be organised and map out a schedule of when you’re going to prepare things for the party itself. That way everything on your yummy birthday menu can be served up on time to your guests on time and with a minimum of fuss and stress in the kitchen.